Crossword Genius

Description of some molecular bonding providing energy in vacant lot, possibly (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

octavalent

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'description of some molecular bonding' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'energy in vacant lot possibly' is the wordplay.
'energy' becomes 'e' (physics symbol as in E=mc2).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'possibly' indicates an anagram.
'vacant'+'lot'='vacantlot'
'vacantlot' with letters rearranged gives 'octavalnt'.
'e' going within 'octavalnt' is 'OCTAVALENT'.

'providing' is the link.

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I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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